Agents of the exclusive Elite Penguin Force are being called back into action. Disney Interactive Studios officially announced today the development of Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force: Herbert’s Revenge, the sequel to the 2008 top Nintendo DS™ title, Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force. This follows the initial unveiling earlier this week by Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios, and Steve Wadsworth, president of Disney Interactive Media Group, during their respective keynote addresses at the Engage! Expo at Toy Fair and the D.I.C.E. Summit.

Walt Disney World has released the Official Storybook Program which is your detailed guide to the Princess Expo and the half marathon itself. Every runner participating in the event should download and review the guide for helpful hints and information.

Disney/Pixar has just introduced Buttercup to the Toy Story 3 line-up via its official Facebook page. His manufacturer’s description is as follows:

Saddle up for fun and let Buttercup lead your child away on a magical adventure! This cuddly unicorn features velvety-soft, snow-colored fur with sparkly gold and pink accents. He sports a signature mythical golden horn and a fun-to-comb mane and tail. Buttercup’s durable plastic eyes are both charming and scratch-resistant. Hypo-allergenic. Ages 3 and up.

Buttercup will be voiced in the film by comedian Jeff Garlin (most noted for his recurring role on the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm)

The US Patent Office has recently published a patent application by Disney Enterprises which appears to be the groundwork for Disney’s announced digital rights management (DRM) technology dubbed ‘Keychest.’

The technology is intended to allow an individual to purchase the right to a movie or a song or book or any other type of protected content and be able to play that same content on any number of multimedia devices with just the single purchase. For example, songs purchased through iTunes are limited not just to iPod/iPhone/iTunes devices, but specific ones. With ‘Keychest’ technology, that song might also be able to be played on a PC using any copy of iTunes (or even another application), on any other mobile device, etc. The same would apply for movies. For example, purchase the latest Disney film on DVD and immediately be able to stream it on your friend’s computer or play it on your cell phone, all at no additional cost.

Note: This article has been updated with a major correction. See the bottom of this article for details.

By now you probably know who Rex, Hamm and R/C are. You might even have heard of Woody. And if you’re really in the know on the Toy Story lore, you might even have an inkling as to who Buzz Lightyear of Stanor Command is.

From Walt Disney Studios UK, we get out first look at the new music video for the end title track for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, ‘Alice (Underground)’ by Avril Lavigne. While featuring mostly Avril and her performance in the Underland, the video also features some glimpses (mostly previously released) of the film which will be released domestically on March 5.

Variety has reported interest by Walt Disney Studios in producing Prom, a comedy written by television writer Katie Wech. Citing the success of High School Musical as inspiration, the teen romp is said to be written in the vein of film legend John Hughes or Cameron Crowe. Quick to note that the project is still in development stages, Variety suggests Disney is looking at a way to produce the film for only five to ten million, significantly less than even the aforementioned Disney Channel Movie cost, most notably by casting virtual unknowns for the leads, thus heightening the film’s chances at churning a profit.

I was able to briefly penetrate the LEGO fortress (which, despite being bright yellow on the exterior, was constructed of something much more durable than plastic) and get a sneak peek at all of the new Disney branded LEGO and DUPLO sets we can expect to see in 2010.

Solidifying the recent licensing of Disney to LEGO, 2010 marks the first year that LEGO will be introducing Disney-branded DUPLO for the younger set. In this case, we have two series coming out in the first half of the year for Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story and for Disney/Pixar’s CARS. I have to confess I find the DUPLO sets to be absolutely adorable and I wish I could share photos with you but despite being in possession of the box artwork, it’s all preliminary so I’m not allowed to share, but I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

With LEGO, we have a few more Toy Story sets being released in conjunction with the theatrical release of Toy Story 3. These sets are focused on the film and thus some of the characters and concepts behind the playsets will be spoilers. The same could be said for the Prince of Persia releases, so consider yourself warned.

In some of the biggest toy news this year, Basic Fun is breathing new life into the original Koosh and, for the first time ever, has united the iconic toy with some of your favorite Disney, Pixar, Muppets and Marvel Super Hero Squad friends.

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As a Toy Story 3 licensee, Basic Fun is expanding its already established Games on the Go key chain editions of popular board games with a whole suite of new Toy Story 3 key chains and portable games including some new games inspired by the film. Games like Buzz Buzz are even electronic, allowing you to test your (or your surgeon’s) dexterity.